What constitutes a great ape is quite complex and subject to much debate over recent years. You can read the technical stuff if you want to at wikipedia. This page is about ecotourism and watching great apes of which there are generally recognised as being four kinds: gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees and bonobos (which are the great apes most like humans - usually called the Pygmy Chimpanzee ).

Gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos live in groups in Africa. Orangutans live in Indonesia and spend much of their time alone.

Tipe for watching Great Apes

Gorillas are basically shy, peaceful animals. By carefully observing them and watching how they watch you and each other, you can learn some very simple rules for gorilla watching.

First and perhaps most important, don't stare. When you were very young, your parents probably taught you not to stare at people. In gorilla society it is also considered rude to stare. A staring gorilla is communicating a challenge to fight—or at least an immediate "cease and desist" command—as when the silverback male glares at squabbling females or rowdy youngsters.

As you are watching the great apes you may see them glance at you from under lowered brows and then look away quickly as soon as—or perhaps a split second before—your eyes meet. This is a courtesy they also extend to each other and it is behavior you should imitate when observing them closely.

It is fascinating that young children seem to be excused by the apes for violating the staring taboo. Perhaps it is because they are so small and a childish stare is insignificant.

Sizing up to Great Ape watching

Size is intimidating to both apes and humans. Imaginary monsters—from King Kong to Godzilla—are all larger than life. Male gorillas are considerably larger than females, and this is fitting since one of the males' roles is the defense of their families. When they wish to impress each other, both males and females rise up on their hind legs and beat their chests or shake branches as part of their defensive/aggressive displays.

When they wish to appear un-intimidating, they stand quietly with their heads tucked down, almost slouching. Visitors can reduce their size—and the animals' discomfort—by crouching down, especially when closely approaching the glass-fronted enclosures.

Crouching with your back against them seems to stimulate the animals' curiosity, causing them to investigate at close range. It may be that a back stands out in the sea of visitor faces.

A good rule of thumb for appropriate great ape watching is to behave as you would with a small child. Rapid movement, loud noises, and other forms of boisterous behavior are unacceptable to babies and gorillas.

Perhaps because they are more solitary in the wild, orangutans do not display as much sensitivity to close observation as gorillas do. Even so, the same behaviors are suggested for viewing orang utans.

Great Apes watching - more on Gorilla watching - more on watching orangutans

Uganda Great Apes watching holiday safari packages

Please be a responsible ecotourist on your Great Ape watching holiday and understand that some of the following rules and warnings may apply :

1) The security situation in these African countries can change

2) The gorillas’ health is strictly protected - no-one with a visible cold or other transmissible disease is allowed to visit them. Guides check before entering the park that everyone appears healthy, so entry cannot be guaranteed: if someone is obviously ill, or has a cold, he or she will be turned away

3) It can be a difficult climb to reach the gorillas and the descent may be hard. Anyone who is fit, active and well with no mobility problems should manage. Although guides and porters are on hand to assist, anyone who appears unable to manage the climb may have to turn back early - the decision of the group leader is final.

Great Apes watching